Death toll in Mayotte 'several hundred' after Cyclone Chido, top official says

Following the impact of Cyclone "Chito" on the French island of Mayotte, the island's top government official told a local broadcaster on Sunday that the death toll had reached "hundreds," and could even be in the thousands. France has urgently dispatched rescue teams and supplies to this impoverished overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, which has suffered widespread devastation.

Mayotte Prefect François-Xavier Bieuville, in an interview with the television station Mayotte la 1ere, stated, "I think there are hundreds of deaths, possibly approaching a thousand, or even thousands... considering the intensity of this event." He had previously indicated that this was the most severe cyclone to hit Mayotte in 90 years.

Cyclone "Chito" swept across the southwestern Indian Ocean on Friday and Saturday, also affecting the nearby islands of Comoros and Madagascar. However, Mayotte, lying directly in the cyclone's path, bore the brunt of the impact. According to French meteorological services, "Chito" brought wind speeds exceeding 220 km/h (136 mph), making it a Category 4 cyclone, the second-strongest in that category.

Subsequently, "Chito" made landfall in Mozambique on the African continent, with authorities concerned about the potential impact on over 2 million people in the country's north. Earlier on Sunday, the French Interior Ministry confirmed at least 11 deaths and over 250 injuries, but it is expected that this number will rise significantly. Mayotte, located in the southwestern Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, is France's poorest island and the poorest region in the European Union. The island has a population of just over 300,000, spread across two main islands.

Rescuers and firefighters have been deployed from France and the nearby French territory of Reunion, and supplies are being urgently transported via military aircraft and ships. Due to damage to the airport control tower, only military aircraft are able to fly in. Bieuville stated that the worst damage occurred in the slums of metal shacks and informal buildings in much of Mayotte. Referring to the currently officially reported death toll, he said, "When you see the scene in the slums, this number is not credible." He added, "I think the casualties are much higher."